Handbag or the like



Aug. 1944. M. GREENFIEL-D 2,355,155

HANDBAG OR THE LIKE Filed July 6, 1942 l/Vl/E/VTOR Mildred Greenfigl l A'TTORJVE Y Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANDBAG on ma LIKE Mildred Greenfield, Bronx, N. Y. Application July 6, 1942, Serial No. 449,908 2 Claims. ('01. 150-28) .Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide a handbag having two components, namely, a frame and a convertible'pouch; to-provide means whereby the upper handbag portion or frame may be easily disengaged from the lower portion or pouch; to provide an assembled combination of handbag whereby the upper portion or frame may be of leather or similar material to match the material of shoes and the lower portion or pouch to match the material of a garment being 'worn by the user of the handbag; to present an attractive handbag assembly; to enable separate parts of handbags to be purchased as a combination or apart from each other; to enable a user to purchase separate parts of the handbag and to substitute either the frame portion or pouch to combine varying color combinations as desired; to secure simplicity of construction and operation; and to obtain other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved handbag, with the upper portion or frame partly broken away to show the detachable means for Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the handbag and showing the pouch partly detached from the frame.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawing, it may be initially stated that the broad concept is directed more readily, effectively and economically harmonizing features. of a woman's every-day attire and accoutrements, and especially for those who have a preference for changing attire frequently and yet to maintain a harmonizing effect. -It is recognized that it is desirable when making change of attire to then have a different handbag to more or less simulate or harmonize with the clothes and shoes being worn. However, heretofore the necessity of purchase and possession of numerous handbags to accomplish this desideratum has been both costly and burdensome. In accordance with my invention, a supply of pouches of various materials, colors and so forth and also a supply of several upper or frame portions of different materials, colors and so forth may be kept on hand, the pouch being separable from the frame with the several frames and pouches interchangeable, enabling the user to assemble the desired combination readily and at will. Inasmuch as present-day coloring of shoes is more standardized than other garments, the frame portion of the handbag may well be made of leather or other material harmonizing with the usual run of shoe finishes and will not be required in as great a number as pouches which may be of the same material or harmonizing material to match the users dress, coat or other article worn. It is also preferable that the frame, while inherently flexible so that it may be spread at its opening for gaining access to the pouch in use, shall have a greater rigidity than required of the pouch, thus enabling it to function as a frame and as a continuation of the pouch wall.

In carrying out the invention, and referring now in detail to the drawing, the reference numeral i0 designates in general a completely assembled handbag or the like, and for clarity the upper or separable portion thereof will be referred to as the frame II and the lower part or portion as the pouch II. The frame H in the present instance by preference may be constructed of appropriate inherently stiff but flexible material, such as leather, imitation leather, heavy woven fabric, and, if desired, by a properly reenforced lighter-weight material. It is contemplated that said upper portion or frame H shall constitute the top part of a completed handbag, pocket-book or the like and that it shall be of a color, forinstance, to closely match or harmonize with the particular coloring of shoes and to be of the same material or of material simulating or harmonizing in character with the material of such shoes.

Said frame H preferably is of a generally rectangular shape as shown, and provides front, back and side walls, and as illustrated, has downwardly depending front and rear extension tabs I3, I 3 in continuation of the front and back walls of the frame and with the upper ends of the tabs terminating, as at H, H, at the bottom and ends of the front and back walls and at the bottoms of the side walls. The topof the frame may be provided with any convenient carrying means such as adjustable strap or handle I5 shown attached to loops l6 suitably fastened at the top part of the frame.

As in other handbags, a longitudinal opening I! provided in the top of the frame extending lengthwise of the top from adjacent one end to adjacent be closed when contents are not being removed or being placed therein, for which purpose a suitable closing or locking means is provided such as the well-known interlocking slide fastener of which one sold'in trade as a zipper" is an example and here indicated in general by numeral '18. Such a fastener provides interlocking track members l9 and 20 secured on the underneath side of the top of the frame. Other brands and types of locking means may be substituted by the manufacturer as found most expedient.

A lining 2| may be secured within the inside of the frame H, as by stitches 22 and 23. Said It is to be noted that the lining does not extend downwardly as far as the extension tabs l3, l3, but terminates slightly above the upper edges I4,

' l4 thereof at the side of the frame, the purpose of which will presently appear.

Attached, as by being stitched, to the lower edge of the lining 2| and extending the full distance thereof at the front, sides and back, is a strip for carrying one member of an interlocking slide fastener means (of which one sold in trade as a zipper is an example) said member constituting an interlocking track 24 for supporting, detaching r attaching a detachable pouch l2 to the frame H of the handbag Ill.

The lower part of the handbag or the like may be in the form of a pouch I2 and preferably may be constructed of any suitable material, such as garment material, cloth, or the like and of any coloring to matchor. harmonize with the coloringor material of a-garment being worn by the user. These pouches' may be purchased as part of the completely assembled handbag or the like, or can be.purchased as a separate part from stores or shops exclusively selling garments, and if desired, the frame maybe purchased separate- 1y from stores selling shoes. In the present showing the pouch I2 may be of a convenient size and shape and is provided with an upper opening 25. Along the edge for the entire circumference may be attached, as by stitching a strip 26, for the complemental zipper track member 21- coopsliding a slide 28 along the juxtaposed tracks. When thus secured together, the pouch and frame present the appearance and effect of a one-piece construction with the interlocking fastener means entirely hidden by the extension tabs l3, [3, of the frame H as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

In operation, and when desiring to substitute a different frame or pouch, the extension tab'overlying the slide 28 is lifted slightly. for gainingaccess to the slide which may then he slid the entire way around the bag until it reaches 3. terminus 29 by which the slide is permitted to disengage one track member and suffer the track members to be entirely disengaged from each other. By reverse operation, another pouchmay then be attached to theframe and a different frame attached to the first pouch, thus accomplishing an assembly differing from the first.

Obviously detail changes and modifications may be made in the construction and use of my improved handbag without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A handbag or the like of the character described eomprising a frame h'aving'a depending interior lining formed to provide front and rear sections of equal size and shape, and exterior depending tabs juxtaposed exteriorto and at the front and. rear of the respective lining sections and each extending below the juxtaposed lining section, means on the depending edges of'said lining sections adapted to receive a pouch, and said pouch having cooperating means removably.attaching the pouch from both lining sections and to the frame behind said exterior tabs.

2. A handbag or the like of the character described comprising a frame having 9. depending interior lining formed to provide front and rear sections of equal sizeand shape, and exterior depending tabs juxtaposed exterior to and at the front and rear of the respective lining sections and each extending below the juxtaposed lining section, part of an interlocking slide fastener extending the circumferential distance of said lining attached to the lower depending edge thereof behind the said tabs, a pouch adapted to be removably attached to the frame and having a complemental fastener member peripherally of the upper edge thereof for securing said pouch to the separable fastener on said lining of the frame behind said tabs.

MILDRED GREENFIELD. 

